Evaluación de la efectividad de la feromona sexual de Tecia solanivora (Polvony )(Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) para su monitoreo en el cultivo de papa en el Cerrito, Santander.

Abstract

Tecia solanivora (Polovny), is the main pest of the potato crop in Colombia, as it causes significant economic losses in this crop. The main way of controlling T. solanivora is with chemical insecticides, however, their inappropriate use has generated the emergence of resistant populations of this species in potato crops. A promising strategy for the control of this pest is the use of sexual pheromones, but there are large gaps in knowledge related to the efficiency of this strategy in Colombia. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the sexual pheromone of T. solanivora to monitor the incidence of this pest in the potato crop in Cerrito, Santander. The results indicate that there is a negative correlation between the number of adults captured and the incidence of damage to the tubers. Additionally, the trap can be used as a control measure, as it has a significant power to capture adults, which theoretically lowers the incidence in the field. Additionally, it was established that the sexual pheromone trap in association with chemical control can be used within the IPM of T. solanivora in the Cerrito region, Santander.